In Season Deli

For over 25 years, In Season Deli has provided healthful lunch options in Downtown Tempe. For most of that time, Lydia Ruiz has been the owner and the person in charge of the kitchen. A 2007 injury sidelined Ruiz and led her to sell the restaurant to another owner. During the brief time under alternative ownership, some fans of In Season Deli say they saw a slip in quality. For others, the restaurant remained a worthwhile destination. Regardless, all doubts were resolved in 2008 when Ruiz bought the restaurant back and made the place, to quote the Talking Heads, "the same as it ever was."

Despite the brief transfer of ownership, In Season Deli never left its location in a courtyard accessible from an entrance at 411 South Mill, between Fat Burger and Mill Avenue Jewelers. Inside the courtyard, the deli awaits with an outdoor seating area and a small indoor space with an open kitchen. The site is in the same complex as Med Fresh Grill, just over a block south of the Mill Avenue / Third Street Station.

Although the word "deli" appears in the restaurant's name, In Season is not a place that offers a wide variety of sandwiches made from cold cuts, so don't come here expecting pastrami on rye. Instead, In Season's small kitchen turns out a variety of fresh salads each day. Tuna and chicken salads are staples sold by the scoop; a larger number of meatless salads featuring greens, pasta, and rice are in a rotation. Salads often feature Greek, Italian, or Asian flavors and can be put together in combinations (right photo below). Many salads are available at half price after 2 PM.

Daily soup selections are also available. For those who prefer a hot entree, In Season's signature item is flavorful tamales (center photo below), which are vegan or vegetarian depending on whether one adds the optional shredded cheese. The tamales, soups, and salads can all be assembled into combinations of two, three, four, or even five items for anyone with a hearty appetite and a desire to try a variety of tastes.

Beverages included iced teas, both plain and flavored, canned sodas, and a delicious honey lemonade, which is available in both plain and strawberry varieties. Desserts include a variety of cookies, but the best sweet on the menu is the delicious homemade rice pudding. There also some light breakfast items such as bagels and granola available in the morning.

Customers order and pick up their orders at the counter, and since there is no indoor seating, choose to eat at the outdoor patio or take their food to go. The setup is similar to Pane Bianco in Central Phoenix. In Season's outdoor seating area is both covered and mist-cooled, making it comfortable even on hot summer days. There's even a high chair and a kid's menu for the youngest of customers. The only drawback to In Season Deli is its limited hours: 11 AM to 4 PM, weekdays only.

414 S Mill Ave. # 111, Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 731-5007

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